Telpherage apparatus.



I. B. DRINKARD.

TELPHERAGE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY f6. 1916. 1 2U 1% Patented Dec. 5,1916.

S'SHEETS SHEET I.

npentoz l. B. DRINKARD.

TELPHERAGE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY Is. 1916.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l. B. DRINKARD.

TELPHERAGE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I6, I9I6.

ITHAIVIAR B. DBINKARD, F MART, TEXAS.

TELPHERAGE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 5, 1916..

Application filed May 16, 1916. Serial No. 97,910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ITHAMAR B. DRINK- ARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mart, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Implements in Telpherage Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in telpherage apparatus and has particular application to apparatus for use in rural districts for carrying mail from the outer end of the yard to the house and vice versa.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to improve and simplify the general construction of telpherage apparatus and to provide apparatus wherein the carrier will be automatically propelled from one end of the line to the other, automatically locked at the end of the line and the motor automatically reversed simultaneously with the locking of the carrier so that when the carrier is released it may be carried in the opposite direction toward the other end of the line.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of telpherage apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the carrier. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through the carrier on the line 33 of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the carrier. Fig. 5 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of the locking device and the starter for the carrier. Fig.7 is a detail view of the intermediate post and track support.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, 1, 1 designate posts arranged at the termini of the line. Secured to each post 1 adjacent to the upper end thereof is a horizontal arm 2 projecting outwardly from the post 1 and formed with an opening 3 adjacent to the outer end thereof. Spanning the space between the arms 2 is a wire or track 4 that has the ends passed through the apertures 3 and fastened to the outer surfaces of the respective arms by means of bolts 5. Secured to the inner surface of each arm 5 2 at opposite sides of the wire 4 are guide bars 6 lying parallel with the wire and having the inner ends thereof outturned as at 7. Fastened to the upper end of each post 1 is a horizontal rod 8 projecting toward the wire 4 and having the wire end thereof inclined upwardly as at 9. Also fastened to the upper end of each post 1 is a vertical bolt 10 and pivoted upon the bolt 10 is a starting rod 11. Surrounding the bolt 10 is a spring 12 that has one end fastened to the starting rod 11 and the other end fastened to the bolt, such spring acting to hold the rod 11 in one position. Arranged between the posts 1 and upon the side of the wire 4 opposite from the posts 1 is a post 13. Secured to the post 13 adjacent to the upper end thereof and projecting toward the wire 4 is an arm 14 equipped at its outer end with a metal strip 15 that is secured to the wire 4 to support the latter.

The carrier of the telpherage apparatus is indicated at 16 and embodies a vertical casing 17 and a receptacle 18 secured to the lower end of the casing 17 and adapted to contain mail matter or other articles to be transported. Mounted in the casing 17 is a frame 19. Journaled in the frame 19 is a shaft 20 and coiled about the shaft 20 is a convoluted spring 21, while surrounding the spring 21 is a casing 22 loosely mounted upon the shaft 21. The inner end of the spring is fixed to the shaft, while the outer end is secured to the casing. Keyed upon the shaft is a driving gear 23, while loosely surrounding the shaft and fastened to the casing is a winding gear 24 meshing with a spur gear 25 fixed upon a shaft 26 journaled in the frame 19 below the shaft 20. One end of the shaft 26 projects through the casing 17 and this projecting end of the shaft is angular in cross section to receive a winding key. Also fixed upon the shaft 26 is a ratchet wheel 27 that is engaged by a pawl 28 pivoted upon the frame 19. The pawl and ratchet 28 and 27 permit the shaft 26 to be rotated under the action of the key so that motion will be transmitted through the gears 25 and 24 to the casing 22 to place the spring under tension, but prevent retrograde movement of the shaft, thereby preventing accidental unwinding of the spring.

29 designates a driving shaft that is journaled in the frame 19 above the shaft 20 and to one side of the latter and fixed upon the shaft 29 is a spur pinion 30 meshing with a spur gear 31 keyed upon a\ counter shaft 32 journaled in the frame 19. Also keyed upon the counter-shaft 32 is a spur pinion 33 that'meshes with the driving gear V the outer wall ofthe casing 17.

23 so that in the rotation of the shaft 20 and the driving gear 23 under the action of V 7 One end of the shaft 29 projects through the casing 17 andkeyed upon such end of the shaft 29 is a bevel pinion 35 meshing "with a similar pinion 36 fixed upon the lower end of a vertical shaft 37 journaled in vertically falining bearings38 carr ed by Loosely mounted upon the upper end portion'of the 'shaft'37 are bevel pinions 39 and 40 arranged one above the other, while spllned upon the shaft 37 between the bevel pinions 39 and 40 is .a clutch collar 41 having the ends thereof formed with teeth adapted to interlock with teeth formed on the inner ends of the hubs of the pinions 39 and 40. In. the present instance, the wall of the casing throughwhich' the shaft 29 projects is extended upwardly above the upper end of ,the casing and then turned over and down to form a hood 42 and this hood carries the'top bearing 38. Journaled 1n suitableibearings carried by the hood 42 and projecting outwardly through the back wall of the hood is a horizontal shaft 43. Keyed 'upon the outer end of the shaft 43 is a bevel gear 44 meshing with the bevel pinions 39 and 40, while fixed upon the inner end of the shaft 43 is a drive wheel 45 having the periphery thereof grooved to receive the :wire 4 so that the casing 17 may be suspended from the wire. Mounted in vertical bearings in the hood 42 adjacent to therespective ends thereof are vertical shafts 46 V capable of sliding and turning movement and secured to the lower end of each shaft 46 is a yoke 47 in which is journaled a guide wheel 48 having the periphery thereof vgroovedto receive the wire 4. These guide wheels 48 'coiiperate with the drive wheel to hold the casing 17'suspended from the wire and permit the casing to traverse the wire; Surrounding each shaft46 between :theyoke 47 and the bearing is an expansion spring 49 that actsto hold the roller 48 in engagement with the wire. Each end edge ofi the back wall of the hood is cut out as at 50 and rotatably mounted in the cut out portion is a roller. 51, while secured to the back wall of the hood below the roller 51 are outwardly projecting latches 52respectively. The clutch collar 41 is connected with a lever 53 and this lever projects through an opening formed in a cover 54 that is secured to the back wall of the easing and incloses the shaft 37 and associated parts.

In practice, the casing 17 is suspended from the wire or track 4 by the drive wheel 45 and the guide wheels 48 and when the clutch collar 41 is connected to the pinion 39 and the spring 21 under tension motion is transmitted from the shaft 29 through the gears 35 and 36 to the shaft 37 and from the shaft 37 to the shaft 43, through the medium of the clutch collar, the pinion 39 and the bevel gear 44, thereby rotating the drive wheel in one direction so that the carrier will move along the wire 4 in one direction. When the carrier reaches one end of the wire, the roller 51 engages the starting rod 11 and swings the latter against the action of the spring 12, while the latching finger 52 engages over the arm 2 to hold the carrier against movement. Simultaneously withthe latching of the carrier, the upturned end 9 of the rod 8 engages the lever 53 and swingsthe latter to disengage the clutch collar from the pinion 39 and engages such collar with the pinion 40, thereby reversing the connections between the motor and the drivewheel 45. As soon as the latch 52 is released, the spring 12 reacts to swing the starting rod 11, thereby imparting initial movement to the carrier so that the-latter may be carried along the wire under the actionof the motor toward the other end of the line.

lVhile I have herein shown and described. the preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In telpherage apparatus, a horizontal track, a carrier suspended from said track and adapted to traverse the same, a motor 2 on said carrier, :1 drive wheel on the car rier, driving connections between said wheel and motor including a reversible clutch, a lever connectedto sa1d clutch and capable of vertical swinging movement to operate the clutch to reverse the connections between the motor and the drive wheel, and a rod at each end of the track having an inclined end adapted to engage said lever and swing the latter and operate said clutch.

2. In telpherage apparatus, a horizontal track, a carrier suspended from said track and adapted to traverse the same, a motor on said carrier, a drive wheel on the carrier, driving connections between said wheel and motor including a reversible clutch. a lever connected to said clutch and capable of vertical swinging movement to operate the clutch to reverse the connections between the motor and the drive Wheel, a rod at each end of the track having an inclined end adapted to engage said lever and swing the latter and operate said clutch, and a spring tensioned starting rod pivoted at each end .of said track and adapted to be engaged by the carrier to place the spring under tension whereby initial movement may be imparted'to the carrier so that the latter may travel in the opposite direction along the track.

In testimony WhereofI aifix my signature.

ITHAMAR B. DRINKARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

